The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-03-31
OuR WAsRINGTON LETTER
pecIal Correspondents of tn. Nnws


Although the weather continues cold
the days are bright, and pleasant, and
evidences of the opening of spring time
abound on every hand. The buds are
bursting upon the earlier varieties of
trees and crocuses and other blossom
ing plants are in full blossom in the
parks and public grounds.
AS the time approaches for the open
ing of the great national drill the head
quarters of the committee, having the
matter in charge, presents a very &C
tive appearance. Military organize
tions from every state in the union have
notified the committee of their inten-
tion of participating in the contest,
and it is probable that at least fifteen
thousand men will be included in the
grand review, to be held upon the clos
ing day. Although the success
of the undertaking had long
which has existed regarding the con-
cessions to be expected from railroad
companies, has prevented many mill
tary organizations from mourning the
expense of the journey. Since it has
been decided that all of the trunk
lines of the country are to carry pas
Sengers at less than one-half fare, the
committee has been iRbIlant, and there
is no longer doubt but that the ma
tional capital will be faxed to its utter
most to accommodate its guests during
drill week. AS the last day of the
drill will occur on Decoration Day, it
is proposed that the visiting military
shall visit the national cemetary at
Arlington, and participate in the de-
coration ceremonies, and as the route
by the long bridge is eircuitous, pom
tOon bridge will be thrown across the
| river, at the foot of G street, for use
upon that occasion.
There seems to be no relation be-
| tween the railroad collisions and the
patent Office, but one of the direct re-
| suits Of the recent railroad disasters in
Vermont and Massachusetts,. has been
| to stimulate the inventive minds
throughout the country, and they have
set at work to invent something that
| will supply an acknowledged public
need, and the patent Office is being
| flooded with applications for patents
for great variety Of devices for modi-
| flying the danger incident to the pres
emit means of heating railway cars. No
less than three hundred and sixty ap.
| plications of this class have been re-
ceived during the past six weeks, and
the number is increasing daily.
national government is the once Of the
sergeant-at-armS Of the house of rep
reeentatives. It is at this Office that
the employees of the house side Of the
| capitol receive their monthly pay
mentS, and the Office is open the year
around. Among the members in the
city, who visited the Office day or two
since, was representative W. L. Scott
of Pennsylvania. Mr.. Scott had not
drawn any portion of his salary for
more than a year, and he received from
the cashier S., 000, which is said to
have been the largest sum ever paid to
q single individual in the history of the
office. u
The work of the pension Office is in
creasing so rapidly that there is like
hhoOd of the Office being swamped I'M
less there is a let up. During the past
week 6 PAT new claims were fled; 2,347
claims were rejected, and 2,147 al
lowed; and the total number now
pending is 267 1871 The Mexican PEN
sion claims are coming in in large
| numbers, and it 10 not seen how it il
possible to dispose of the number be-
| fore the end of the fiscal year, ending
June so, 1888. The $500, coo and over,
appropriated for this class of claims.
must be paid outx before that time, or
e,ee, whatever balance is on hand
turned into hes4feaEury. This will
probably nece8SiAte another appro-
priation by congress. as it is next to
impossible to finally dispose of the 49,
600 claims which tits estimated viii be
fled The claimants are beginning to
understand the situation, and are ac-
cordingly pressing their claims for all
they are worth. t-t H.